you.u. nono, you reachack. >> i thought michelle obama did an enormously effective job without ever mentioning mitt romney's name, without mentioning the fact at there was a republican party or republican n nominee for president. i dramatically andraphically drawawg the differences between these individuals particularly theieir life storyry and how their values have been formed. >> chaes, yoyour turn. >> how much did you h have to pay for that studio space? it is impressive. >> cost a fortune. [laughter] >> michelle obama -- i thought it was a brilliantly cynical speech, done a marvelously. the theme was that he loves his fe, his children, his family, therefore hehe loves everybody. i by the first three -- i think he is a terrific guy in that way. but the argumenent,t, if it is an gument -- it was all anecdotes' -- is because there is this evanempathy -- thihis is a guy who is extremely ideological and ambitious. he this of himself as world- historical. to pretend ass she did it successfully, that there is nothing of that in him is a marvel. >> "brilliantly y cynical." >> i just can

as president obama's secret weapon, his wife michelle, takes the stage to tell the country why they should give her husband another four years. >>> new kid on the block. a 37-year-old mayor, a rising latino leader. tonight, julian castro delivers a history-making speech, can he do what a young obama did eight years ago, when he made the speech that launched his career. we're behind the scenes. >>> and party on. the gloves are off. it's crunch time for president obama's campaign with the polls in a dead heat, can the democrats convince americans that things will be better the second time around? >>> good evening. i'm terry moran in charlotte, north carolina. day one of the democratic national convention. and here just, just a little while ago, michelle obama brought down the house. they had the signs "we love michelle." this one is prepackprepackaged, question about it. but the emotion response spontaneous, as michelle obama told the nation why she believes her husband deserves another four years in the white house. when she speaks of their love and dreams. no question about, michell

ile ago, michelle obama brought down the house. they had the signs "we love michelle." this one is prepackprepackaged, question about it. but the emotion rponse spontaneous, as michelle obama told the nation why she believes her husband deserves another four years in the white house. when she speaks of their love and dreams. no question about, michelle obama is the president's advocate. she's the president's not so secret weapon. >> serving as your first lady is an honor and privilege. >> reporter: when she stepped in the spotlight tonight, michelle obama is taking into prime time a role she's groomed and honed into in the four years in the white house. first, advocate. >> so in the end for barack, these issues aren't political, they're personal, because barack knows what it means when a family struggles. >> reporter: she was a star here, the delegates clearly adore her. a star on a mission. with her husband in the fight of his political life. their future on the line, mrs. obama took her vast national audience into the past. their past, that young couple starting out. >> we learne

the great display put on by some of the speakers, from michelle obama to ledbetter. they were all substantive. i don't see it the way charles season. i know where those glasses. >> i caught up with mark shields on the hot, crowded streets of charlotte. >> democrats have to make a choice. if it is a referendum on whether barack obama has done a good job, they are in trouble. >> what are you going to do for us for the next four years? did we get any answer to that? >> i was absolutely stunned. that was one of the andes speeches i've ever heard on a national stage. -- emptiest speeches i've ever heard on the national stage. incidentally, if he is so proud of his record, his three great legislative attempts -- obamacare, a stimulus, cap-and- trade -- no mention whatsoever in the speech. he cannot speak about his past, his own agenda, and when he talked about the future, he pulled numbers out of had. 100,000 new teachers, 600,000 people working and natural gas, 2 million people on retraining. these are numbers invented. he did not explain once. he did not say once what programs, what p

greatest play put on by some of the speakers, from michelle obama to ledbetter. they were all substantive -- obviously, i don't see the way charles sees it. >> i caught up with mark shields on the hot, crowded streets of charlotte, and his take on the challenges facing the president. to make a choice. if ideas are referendum on whether barack obama has done a good job, -- if it is is a referendum on whether problem has been a good job, they are in trouble. >> if we rehire you, do we get an answer to that? >> i was stunned. that was one of the emptiest speeches i've ever heard on a national stage. he not only did not talk about the past. if he is so proud of his record, his three great legislative attempts -- obamacare, stimulus, cap-and-trade -- no mention whatsoever in his speech. he cannot speak about the past, he cannot speak about his own agenda, which liberals like but the country doesn't, and any part about the future, he pulled the numbers out of at. 600,000 new people working on natural gas, 2 million people on a retraining. these are numbers invented. he did not expla

antonio, texas, as well as the first lady, michelle obama. >> this is a loud, loud arena. so hopefully, you can hear us better. >> i can name that tune in four notes. bill hemmer and markety mccould youan are on the floor. >> reporter: good evening. this arena is electric. the acoustics are outstanding. >> the biggest applause line so far, followed a video tribute for the late senator kennedy from massachusetts. after that, a number of references -- [inaudible], a direct reference to the 18 electoral votes in ohio. the obama team believes that 1 in 18 voters in ohio are connect to the automobile industry. i asked about the michelleobama speech and i was told it was outstanding. ann romney was speaking this night last week in tampa. expect the same tonight from the first lady. >> thank you very much. behind me, governor o'malley is speaking. let's check in. >> we will check in with market a. what do you see on the floor there? >> reporter: lots of enthusiasm. everybody excited for michelle obama's speech down here. the campaign says that her primary task will be to speak as her husband'

ago and all the promise he then seemed to represent. >> first lady michele obama came to the podium this afternoon to prepare for her speech tomorrow night. her husband at a labor day celebration in ohio, took credit for saving the u.s. auto industry. >> i believed in you, i bet on you and because of that bet, three years later, that bet is paying off for america! >> reporter: it's a line that begins to answer the classic question from reagan in 1980. >> are you better off than you were four years ago? >> reporter: over the weekend, top obama aides and supporters struggled to answer that question. >> are we where we need to be? no. >> we have a lot more work to do. >> reporter: today, an about-face. >> we are clearly better off as a country. >> absolutely. >> america is better off today. >> reporter: so job one for the week, the president needs to come up with a compelling case as to why the country is better off now. but it's not just about the past. he also needs to paint a vision of the economy going forward. what will he do so the recovery is stronger than its been? how will he

points that he is making. >> in woodbridge, peggy fox, 9news now. >> and first lady, michelle obama hit the campaign trail in our area today. she is due at an event in baltimore in a half an hour. >>> absentee started today, including virginia. early voting starts in d.c. october 22. and absentee voting begins in maryland october 27. if you need to apply for one of those ballots in maryland, you need to do so by october 30. >>> and if you want to vote for former congressman, virgil good to be the next president, you're in luck in virginia. attorney general certified good has enough signatures to stay on the ballot in virginia. >>> another wild card in the presidential race, will president obama support for marriage equality cost him votes from devout african americans? bruce leshan is here and both sides get fired up today. bruce. >> two very different reactions from two very different coalitions of african american pastors today on this issue of same-sex marriage. the president of a united states who is a black man endorsed same-sex marriage should be put out of office and he never sho

loses. michelle obama touted what her husband has done for gay and lesbian voters. >> whether passing hate crimes or speaking out for all americans to be able to do what barack and i did, marry the love of our lives. >> want to know how to fight common colds with your spices fromour kitchen? how about helping an ear ache with olive oil and garlic? it's possible. we have must see alternative treatments for you and your family. >>> welcome back to "cnn saturday morning." it is 42 minutes past the hour. from coughs to headaches, more and more americans are turning to alternative treatment. it's a broad term from foods and spices to yoga, acupuncture and massage. dr. lawrence rosen is one of the experts leading the way on this. his new book, "treatment alternatives for children" focuses on treatments for children. such an interesting topic. a lot of people talking about this. tell us what kind of things we are talking about here and why try some of these over say, pills and real medicine? >> it's a great question. i came to the book through one of the parents in my practice who said, you

said hillary clinton, 72 said michelle obama. >> a lot of her fans out there. she had an excellent speech, there's no doubt about that. >> for wolf blitzer and i. piers morgan continues our coverage from the cnn pires. >> good evening and welcome to charlotte's hottest hot spot. the cnn grill. the political meeting sometimes over a beer or two. i'm here with two trusty drinkers. and my political all star panel. where else but the speeches in great stuff tonight including rising star, san antonio mayor. the democrats not so secret weapon. >> he knows what it means when a family struggles. he knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids. barack knows the american dream because he's lived it and he wants everyone in this country, everyone to have the same opportunity no matter who we are or where we're from or what we look like or who we love. >> you have attracted quite a crowd. >> it is the sizzling energy bouncing off the place. the castro brothers were very die n dynamic. michelle obama knocked it out of the park as you americans would say. >> i thought s

about michelle obama. she electrified the crowd. michele obama had everyone on the convention floor on their feet. >> i love her >> some had tears in their eyes as mrs. obama spoke passionately about her husband >> i have seen firsthand that being president does not change to your >> it reveals to your >> she says this president is a man whose upbringing and from the values mean you look out for all americans >> that is why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet >> while the first lady stayed mostly away from politics, the keynote speaker go ride in. he got the crowd fired up when he answered the question, are we better off today than four years ago? >> four years ago america stood on the brink of a depression, despite incredible odds and united republican opposition, our president took action and now we have seen 4.5 million new jobs >> tonight president bill clinton will be the star >> they have used wood and we have the clintons, we went >> is expected to share how he got the economy rolling out he could believes t

powerful. gerri: can michelle obama's speak as well? >> i don't know. she is an impressive woman. her remarks will be well received. she is not a newcomer. it is not the first time people have heard from her as they did ann romney. gerri: thank you for helping us out. the first hand account of the mission killing osama bin laden under fire from the pentagon. it reported the contradicts the official story told from that peppermint saying bin laden was shot whether or not he was armed. lis wiehl breaks it down. it is a huge debate. the pentagon says it cannot do this. >> he has the first amendment right but he was a member of the government, the seals and you sign off on the confidential waiver that he will not uncover classified affirmation. the pentagon will say you uncover classified information. another exception is he said day he wed run it by the pentagon and he did not. gerri: reuters cannot with a new story now the pentagon is not sure they can prove their case. and the attorney says it is not clear what he had to do. >> if he signed an nondisclosure doesn't survive? you ca

more on the convention controversy but first, tonight, headlines the first lady michelle obama. >> well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moms that have tested my husband in ways i never could have imagined, i have seen firsthand, that being president doesn't change who you are. no. it reveals who you are. you see, i have gotten to see up close and personal what being president really looks like. i've seen how issue that's come across the president's desk are always hard ones. you know problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer. judgment call stakes are high and there is no margin for error. you're going to get all kinds of advise from all kinds of people but at the end of the day when it comes time to make that decision aas president all have you to guide you are your values and your vision and the life exkbreerns that's make you who you are. barack knows american dream because he has lived it. and he wants everyone in this country everyone, to have the same opportunity no matter who we are or where we're from, what we look like, or who

convention, tonight fess vifts building up to first lady michelle obama. here is a look at highlights. >> i am honored to accept your nomination for president of the united states. wait. this is not my speech! prompter guy can we pull up my speech, please? this is awkward. >> you see this platform is a clear choice. between economic pathways forward or back, inclusion or exclusion, grow together as a nation or be a country of savage disparity that's favor the fortunate few. over the greatest driving force of any economy. a large and robust middle class. >> this nation has been through hard times. but those hard times have hardened our resolve. i'm ready to do the difficult work for a second. i want to do that work with barack obama and not a tea party i'd hola log. we can move america forward but we can only do it together. >> republicans tell us that in the most prosperus among us do even better that somehow, the rest of us will, too. folks... we've heard that before. first they called it trickle down. they called it fly side. now it's romney ryan or is it ryan romney. either way, it

personality and give a sense of who he was. but i just thought that-- i thought michelle obama hit it out of the park glent contrast the rest of night. there were a lot of tough speech, harry reid, deval patrick. they came out to the jugular, and then michelle obama could fill in the rest of the gaps. >> you're electing someone, we're going to spend four more years with these people and after this speech, i think a lot of people will say, yeah, i think i. the one kavil-- >> the one what. >> i don't know if you used that word right. is the speech has reinforces something we've heard all night, which was how much the crowd goes crazy and how passionate they are about abortion and gay marriage and the social issues. and tonight has been about that. and to me it should have been a lot more about economics, growth, and debt. and that better be the job of day two and day three because they did not do it here. >> woodruff: mark, do you agree that's a mistake. >> i will say this, barack obama and the democrats have to come out of this convention with something on bowles-simpson, something tha

, candidate obama at the time, to demonize michelle obama. she even said she felt there was an attempt to make her this angry black woman. that does not exist any more. that character has been beat back. but here you have a person, an individual woman, who there's a lot resting on her shoulders today to talk about the values that women can find relatable, including the economy. not just certainly about women's health issues and healthcare, it is about the economy and how it impacted women. >> yes. she worked very hard over the last four years since the middle of the last campaign it figure out what they're public profile should be. how she can conduct herself in way the whole country can relate to and not to get into things that could be misinterpreted. her role tonight is easier. she has already defined it. and she's got to be talking about her husband as a person and telling their story. she is not going to be wading into some of the partisan fight as we have been discussing. she is really going to be talking about her husband and she's been doing that on the campaign trail as first lad

. the big buzz tonight, of course, was the first lady michelle obama. the democrats' not so secret weapon. >> barack knows what it means when a family struggles. he knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grand kids. barack knows the american dream because he's lived it. and he wants everyone in this country, everyone to have the same opportunity no matter who we are or where we're from or what we look like or who we love. >> to break down michelle obama's speech, john king and gloria borger. apologizing for the heat in here. >> you've attracted quite a crowd. >> it's the sizzling energy bouncing off the place. i had the castro brothers who were very dynamic and very impressive i thought tonight. michelle obama i thought knocked it out of the park as you americans would say. gloria, what did you think? >> yeah. i thought she did. if you were sort of a couch potato democrat, you're sitting at home and not sure you really like the president anymore and you don't have the same passion for him, she was talking to you tonight. and she said to you, well, if people ca

. >> reporter: first lady michelle obama. >> i got the clips in the morning. i thought she did a great job. >> reporter: ann romney's job is to help her husband better connect with women, and as analysts say to humanize him. >> because of the attacks made on him, i'm not surprised, but it's also part of him, not to talk about the piece of how he helps others. he does these things, but guess what? that's not who he is. he doesn't talk about those things. so that's my job. >> reporter: ann romney is expected to keep up a busy campaign pace, working to bridge that gap between her husband and female voters. as re watch up today, she said i know i'll be back in virginia. >> so will her husband. mitt romney campaigns in virginia beach tomorrow. mitt romney, that's sunday morning at 10:30 here on nbc4. >>> after a long legal battle, the man behind the iconic pottser of president obama has sentenced. shepard ferry will pay $25,000 and spend two years probation. the red white and blue image became popular during the '08 campaign, but the press said it was based on a photo by an a.p. photographer. h

this. >> reporter: first lady michelle obama gets a better review. >> i got the clips in the morning. i thought she did a great job. >> reporter: ann romney's job now is to help her hurt better connect with women and as analysts say to humanize him. criticism his wife says is misplaced. >> because of the attacks that have been made on him i'm not surprised at all. but to not be able to talk about the part or the piece he's been out there helping other. he does these things, but guess what? he doesn't talk about those thing. so it's been my job to have to stand up and talk about those things. >> reporter: with the election two months ago, ann romney keeps up a busy campaign pace hoping to bridge that gap. she told us, i know i'll be back in virginia. julie carey, news 4. >>> mitt romney will be on "meet the press" tomorrow at 10:30 right here on nbc 4. >> what do you want first, the good or the bad news? we've got both when it comes to traffic this weekend. first the bad, metro could be a mess with track work that will affect seven stations on the red line alone. buses will re

this week that we're going to see ann romney, we're going to see michelle obama as two of the most effective figures in this campaign. >> not two of the most, the two most effective campaigners in both campaigns. i don't think there's any question about that. michelle obama will lead it off next week in charlotte for her husband. i happen to believe, and you know the kind of family in which i have been raised, i'm living with all women, and i have been witness to this both in my wife and my daughters and now my grand daughters, i think this is the century of women. i really do believe that. >> hooray! >> there's going to be more gains made by more women across every part of our lives. cultural, political, and economic. and i think that there is even among some republican women out there, that that party doesn't quite buy into that yet. i mean, there are extraordinary achievements made by nikki haley and condi rice and everyone else. but the real issue on this campaign, for women, will be will social issues, or economic issues, will one trump the other? because the social issues are

-election, with their convention set to be gaveled to order in just one hour. first lady michele obama caps the opening night with a speech that will talk about the president's connection with and support for the middle class. a theme that the president himself anticipated earlier today at a rally in norfolk, virginia, where he drew a sharp contrast with his republican rival, mitt romney. >> i mean, think about it. a plan that says we're going to make middle-class families pay for another budget-busting, $250,000 tax cut, for people making $3 million a year or more, that's not really persuasive to most people. >> while the president was delivering that line, mitt romney's been up in vermont this afternoon, working on his powers of persuasion, fine tuning his debate preparations and leaving hatchet man paul ryan to do the dirty work on the campaign trail as today in battleground ohio. >> the biggest threat to medicare is obama care and one of the biggest threats to job creation is obama care. so for the sake of medicare, and for the sake of jobs, we are going to repeal and replace obama care

television talk time. thanks for your time, sir. >>> coming up, michelle obama, ann romney and american women. as the first lady prepares to address the dnc tonight, will she, like mrs. romney, have a specific message for women? in her 2008 speech, she praised the efforts of one woman in particular. >> i stand here today at the cross currents of that history, knowing that my piece of the american dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me. people like hillary clinton. who put those 18 million cracks in that glass ceiling so that our daughters and our sons can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher. >> we will discuss all the single ladies, all the married ladies, all the american ladies next on "now." we know a place where tossing and turning have given way to sleeping. where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it th

managed in atdo think michelle obama could have gotten away with these kinds of expressions of anger and irritation about how her husband was treated? no, i don't thinkso. i think we see clearly when michelle obama, before she was the first ,xp e just her pride about it, that she was very much taken to task that and she was also considered maybe a liability going forward. doesn't certainlyave the popularity factor that she has now back then. and the first lady, though, one is championed for school nutrition as part of her "let's move" campaign. they put out this parody called we are hungry. and ey'vle h new eva perron. has it only been riefbded by that of bill clinton? do you think there's an effort go undermine her as an asset to the obama campaign? >> oh, ablutely. think the thingt'st aping ou . that right. she's a huge asset. extremely popular. whatever negativity there was four years ago has been wiped away by her own astonishing handli of her role as first lady but it's one thing to undeine est oba' lectn ai but to do so in a way that goes at the le jij legitimacy. this issue of

romney's speech on the personal side of her husband, well, tonight is michelle obama's turn. she's not going to have to work as hard to convince folks that president obama is likable. take a look at this recent poll. this is a "washington post" poll. 61% of registered voters say that the president seems more friendly and likable compared to 27% for romney. we're going to have more ahead, what we can expect from the first lady. >>> also coming up, the spotlight tonight on a rising star in the democratic party. we're talking about san antonio julian castro following in the footsteps of bill clinton and barack obama, hoping he'll appeal to the growing latino population. here's a look at the man and the mission that he's facing. >> it's been my pleasure to serve as mayor. >> reporter: meet julian castro, popular latino mayor of san antonio, texas, and a darling of the democratic base who will deliver the keynote speech at the national convention in charlotte. democrats have a long tradition of rolling out the party's rising stars for such an honor. >> the keynote speech is to set the t

romney lashing out. it's getting ugly. >>> and first lady michelle obama's speech out on the fight for voting rights. you'll want to hear this one. you're watching "politicsnation" on msnbc. >> this is the movement of our era, protecting that fundamental right, not just for this election but for the next generation and generations to come. >>> have you joined the "politicsnation" conversation on facebook yet? today our fans loved this photo of the president greeting this very excited make-a-wish child in the oval office. kodi says, i love how our president takings the time to make a child happy. a lot of people are still talking about mr. romney's comments, dismissing the 47% of the country. dave says, obama's running for president of the united states while romney is the divided states. we've got more on that next. we want to hear what you think, too. head over to facebook and search "politicsnation" and "like" us to join the conversation that keeps going long after the show ends. companies have to invest in making things. infrastructure, construction, production. we need it now more

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could michelle obama have pulled off ann's fire? >> i have a little bit of a soft spot for political wives. it's hard to watch someone white house who you're in love with be in a struggle that is a political campaign, so i feel her on that and i even like the fact that a political wife in this case is speaking her mind rather than being fully managed by the campaign at all times. think many of us are frustrated by how political wives sometimes get completely managed in campaigns. that said do i think michelle obama could have gotten away with these kinds of expressions of anger and irritation about how her husband was treated? no, i don't think so. i think we see clearly when michelle obama, before she was the first lady, did express even just her pride about it, that she was very much taken to task that and she was also considered maybe a liability going forward. doesn't certainly have the popularity factor that she has now back then. and the first lady, though, one thing she's done as first lady is championed for school nutrition as part of her "let's move" campaign. they put out t

to hispanics and to women. the night's headliner michelle obama, she blew the roof off the place. >> at the end of the day, my most important title is still mom in chief. >> keynote speaker julian castro touched the crowd with his story of humble beginnings the first hispanic to deliver a keynote speech at the dnc. he talked up the president but delivered a punch to mitt romney. >> i don't think governor romney nent meant any marm. he has no idea how good he's had it. mitt romney quite simply doesn't get it. >> it was a democratic party so speakers served up a lot of red meat. >> if mitt was santa claus, he would fire the reindeer and outsource the elves. >> women still earn just 77 cents for every dollar men make. maybe 23 cents doesn't sound like a lot to someone with a swiss bank account, a cayman island investment. >> put simply, women in america cannot trust mitt romney. >> i want to bring in ruth marcus, columnist for "washington post" and political reporter nick con sore ri. let's talk about michelle obama. it was called a resounding trium triumph. what do you think she ac